Needle-localization biopsy of the breast: impact of a selective core needle biopsy program on yield.

Authors:
  • PDP J Dempsey
    P J Dempsey
  • NPN S Pile
    N S Pile
  • WBW K Bernreuter
    W K Bernreuter
  • MUM M Urist
    M M Urist
  • CSC R Shumate
    C R Shumate
  • WMW A Maddox
    W A Maddox
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Abstract
To determine the effect of a selective core biopsy program on the yield at needle-localization biopsy (NLB) of nonpalpable lesions. Two hundred consecutive core biopsy samples of the breast were evaluated in an ongoing consecutive series of 1,172 NLB samples. Before implementation of the core biopsy program, the yield at NLB improved from 21% at 100 cases to 35% just before the introduction of core biopsy. After implementation, the yield increased gradually to 55% at 200 cases. The yield in masses increased from 21% at 100 cases to 43% just before the initiation of the core biopsy program and then increased dramatically to 72% at 200 cases. The percentage of small lesions detected did not change with implementation: 88% of invasive cancers measured less than 1.5 cm and 60% measured less than 1 cm in the last 100 cases. Appropriate selection of cases for core biopsy can more than double the yield of cancer in NLB samples without a decrease in the percentage of small cancers detected.